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Original poster

Habs school for Girls

398 replies

youlookalotlikeme · 08/11/2012 08:46

Hi,

Does anyone have a view on this school - positive or negative?

Considering for my DD (yes, yes, PFB before anyone asks). Have tried asking in Education, but not getting any replies.

TIA

OP posts:
Ughfootballseason · 08/11/2012 16:00

Oh dear OP you've been ripped to shreds here somewhat!

My DD is three too and I'm about to put her in for an assessment to a selective girls' school. I've decided not to apply to a selective on the to ten list upthread as I'm worried she'd be too pushed and the environment too competitive.

It does sound like your daughter is bright but only you can decide whether that will be nurtured best in a competitive, fast-paced environment or a more relaxed one. If you have any doubts, listen to them.

Original poster
youlookalotlikeme · 08/11/2012 16:00

But, of course, I'll never need to worry about that... given the genius I've spawned Grin

Seriously... advice accepted. Smile

OP posts:
wordfactory · 08/11/2012 16:02

Well it's just worth thinking about because both Habs and STAHs cull at year 6.

And STAHS again after GCSE.

That said, Berko had a cull after AS level the year before last which I thought was shit because where can those students relaistically go half way through their A levels.

Original poster
youlookalotlikeme · 08/11/2012 16:10

Word - if you had a little girl like my DD (And I think I've bigged her up quite a bit) ... where would you consider sending her?

You know the area, generally, we are looking at.

She is such a darling. I so want to get it right.

I already know how PFB I sound

OP posts:
lisad123 · 08/11/2012 16:14

The OP has really got a shooting here!
Some children are bright, some are gifted and some are even better. If a parents sees that and helps their gifts along, why is that so awful??
My dd1 is bright and gifted, we encourage her abilities in art and maths, not via tutors but just with equipment and interest. We have also chosen a non selective prep school for her.

As for OP I drive past Habs now and then but know very little about it. I can't say I'm very impressed from their website and its very clear it's very focused on results and the best only, and that's from website. Personally I have heard loads of good stuff about St Albans.

mirry2 · 08/11/2012 16:30

OP if you think your dd stands a chance and you think it is the right school for her, apply to Habs, NLCS and St Albans. However be prepared for a disappointment because the odds are long. I beleive they are looking for confident girls (but not necessarily assertive) and we were told they were looking for girls who would be able to be part of a very large school at an early age and be able to cope with a fairly long daily journey.

seeker · 08/11/2012 16:39

OP- it doesn't matter how insured the riding school is, they are putting your child at risk. Both because her pelvis is stil very loose still and because she is not tall enough to properly control a cantering pony, however talented a rider she is.

If you ignore everything else on this thread, do not ignore this. Your child is actually in danger. And any riding school that tells you different is just after your money.

sittinginthesun · 08/11/2012 16:55

No experience of Habs, but know several grown up men who went to Berko. Not particularly balanced/happy/mature individuals. Of course, it's probably changed since then...

Puppypanic · 08/11/2012 17:26

No one picked up on the skiing yet???

sue52 · 08/11/2012 17:28

I'm still getting over the cantering Puppypanic.

seeker · 08/11/2012 17:39

Skiing's fine. My ds skied at 3. Lots of swiss children do.

The riding bit is positively irresponsible.

PoppyAmex · 08/11/2012 17:47

I'm not being argumentative at all OP.

I think it's very cute that your daughter speaks a few words of Spanish she picked up from Dora, but that doesn't mean "she speaks two languages".

As I said, I grew up in a bilingual family and am a parent in a bilingual home myself, so your statement just sounds silly to me.

Since you're open to opinions, I also think that you should listen to what other posters are telling you about your daughter's riding school, as it's a SAFETY issue, which IMHO is much more important.

Farewelltoarms · 08/11/2012 17:49

Out of interest how many do they cull at Habs between 4 and 11 - I suppose specifically how many fail when they take the school's own exam to the senior school? Because if their selection procedures at 3/4 are reliable and good at picking these bright, ambitious tiny people, then the only thing between them and success at 11 is 7 years at Habs. And if they then fail, then surely it's the school that's failed in its teaching?
It always seems to me that either entry at such a young age should be a lottery or it should be the whole way through. Either they have faith in the ability to select at that age or they don't. I suspect that most of the time they weed out any obvious special needs or behavioural difficulties and then just take the ones with Oxbridge educated parents, a successful Dad and an involved mother. Probably as good a predictor as any...

Original poster
youlookalotlikeme · 08/11/2012 17:57

With all due respects...this was not (and isn't) about my DD's lifestyle, but about her proposed education.

She will continue to speak spanish and she will continue to ski and she will continue to play the piano and she will continue to horse ride.

Given that 90%+ of you think I'm making the whole thing up, I really don't see what it matters to you.

She adores horse riding. It's her greatest pleasure. She's good at it. She canters for less than 10 minutes a week. . i am not about to change her lifestyle because of this thread.

I'ts amazing that I've had far more comments about what she does and doesn't do than about the actual schools I am considering for her.

OP posts:
Puppypanic · 08/11/2012 17:58

sue52 Grin!

As a rider and a skier (don't speak Dora Spanish though) I am very impressed that the OP's dd can do both, play the piano passably and speak a second language - fluently or otherwise - seems to be some confusion over that point.. all at 3 years old....fantastic..

I agree, insane to be cantering at 3 yrs old. It's usually all lead rein stuff and a little bit of trot at that age.

Puppypanic · 08/11/2012 17:59

Because it is far more incredible interesting I suspect than the actual schools.

seeker · 08/11/2012 18:06

I can't understand why you are refusing to listen to people who actually know. You are putting your child at risk. And it is irresponsible for you, now you know that, to continue to do it.

mirry2 · 08/11/2012 18:07

farewell they culled 1 from my dd's class at llyrs and I know of one who left between 4-11 because she was struggling. A few others left for other reasons. It was a 2 class intake so don't know what happened in the other class but I expect it was about the same. A few joined the school at 7, I suppose to take up the spaces made available by those who left.

seeker · 08/11/2012 18:08

And I gave you a moderately informed opinion on Habs as well.

My opinion on riding is significantly more than "moderately informed". If you ignore it, and that of others on this thread, you are a fool.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 08/11/2012 18:10

OP, I'm guessing you're not a million miles away from me judging by the schools you're considering. Quite a few of the kids from private primaries in my town who don't pass the 11+ go on to Berkhamsted if their parents don't want them to go to the state non-grammers. Read into that what you will. Likewise with Pipers Corner.

wordfactory · 08/11/2012 18:16

I'm afriad OP, you can't dictate what people will or won't comment on.

And frankly, I agree that cantering for a 3 year old is the sign of a dreadful riding school. It doesn't matter if they're insured. You should not allow it.

An had that information come uop in any thread I'd have pointed it out becuase it is dangerous and irresponsible. Sorry and all that.

dinkybinky · 08/11/2012 18:24

At 3,4 and 7 intake there is only one thing these schools look for.......parents professions !!!

mirry2 · 08/11/2012 18:29

dinky - that's a very cynical and unjustified remark . I don't remember that being on the application form for Habs Hmm

exoticfruits · 08/11/2012 19:13

Because if their selection procedures at 3/4 are reliable and good at picking these bright, ambitious tiny people, then the only thing between them and success at 11 is 7 years at Habs. And if they then fail, then surely it's the school that's failed in its teaching?

That's what you would think. I think that if they hand pick them when tiny then they should get them up to the right level. It doesn't seem to work that way. My nephew went to a school in the nursery at 3 yrs, they asked some to leave at pre prep,more at prep and more for the senior school. They want the best and that way they get them. It is nothing like the 11+ where once you are in, you are in. There is nothing to say that someone admitted at 4 yrs will be wanted at 8 years and later.

wordfactory · 08/11/2012 19:21

Oh come on. The parents' professions are always on forms for private school. And yep, I suspect it is one of the measures a school uses to try to select.

Obviously it's a blunt instrument, but still...